Abstract: An apparatus is described comprising a signal indicative of which of a plurality of data structures stored in a queue desire to issue from the queue. The apparatus also has a content addressable memory having a plurality of cells, where each of the cells is configured to store one of the data structures. The apparatus also has an output from at least one of the cells that is indicative of whether the data structure within the at least one of the cells has issued from the queue. The apparatus also has an input to the at least one of the cells coupled to the signal.

Abstract: A printer has a print head with multiple nozzles and firing elements for corresponding nozzles. The print head receives one or more power supply inputs to operate the firing elements. The print head has power supply fault protection circuitry to guard against harmful and destructive effects on firing resistors resulting from power supply fluctuations. The power supply fault protection circuitry is integrated into a pen-based chip that also forms the firing elements and optionally the firing logic.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention discloses a system for extending the range of Personal Communication Services (“PCS”) band wireless local loop services. A frequency translation unit at both the user's residence and at the central hub translates the PCS signal from the PCS frequency band to the Local Multipoint Distribution System (“LMDS”) band and back. As LMDS has a significant range advantage over DECT and PHS without greatly increased costs, this frequency translation allows DECT and PHS telephones to be used over greater ranges, without the necessity of constructing a large number of cellular transceiver sites. A second embodiment of the present invention uses a frequency translation unit to permit the use of either PCS or known cellular telephones inside a user's residence without the call being routed through the more expensive cellular network. The frequency translation unit translates from PCS or cellular frequencies to LMDS frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a process gas stream from an upstream source to a downstream treatment unit, including a manifold receiving gas from the upstream source, including first and second valved inlet lines which are alternatingly employed to flow gas to a downstream process. The manifold is arranged so that one of such lines is actively flowing gas from the upstream source to the downstream process, while the other is blocked by closure of the valve therein and is undergoing regeneration. A pressurized water source is coupled with the manifold, by valved water flow lines to each of the first and second inlet lines, with the water flow line valves being selectively openable or closeable to establish or discontinue flow of pressurized water therethrough, respectively. Cycle timer control means are employed to control the operation of the manifold and valves, for water cleaning of the off-stream inlet line.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for depleting raster data to allow printing of the depleted raster data on a grid that corresponds to the resolution of the undepleted raster data with a printed dot size that is larger that would otherwise be utilized with the undepleted raster data and to achieve faster ink dry time. Also disclosed is a technique for up scaling raster data at a particular resolution (e.g., 300 dpi) to a higher resolution in such a manner that expanded data includes a greater number of dot producing pixels to compensate for a dot size that is larger than the dot size that is appropriate for the higher resolution, and does not require horizontal depletion for printing with such dot size. This allows raster data at a particular resolution to be combined with higher resolution rasterized vector data for printing in accordance with the enhanced mode of operation.

Abstract: Data is compressed/decompressed according to the address location of data entries contained within a dictionary built in a content addressable memory 88. During data compression, character combinations which have not previously occurred within the input data stream are encoded as new data entries within the dictionary. When the character string OMEGA-K fails to match any existing dictionary entry, the address of the data entry (OMEGA) is output as a codeword representing the matched portion of the character string and OMEGA-K are stored in a new address location for later use. In compression, update circuitry 84 allows a memory search and a data write to be performed during the same clock cycle. Compressed data strings are decompressed by using the compressed data characters as addresses for link list traversal of the decompression dictionary. The data entry addressed by the data character is output if it does not require further decompression.

Abstract: The cell type of a battery is determined by characterizing the series resistance behavior of various cell types to determine ranges of series resistance values exhibited by batteries of a particular cell type. The series resistance of a battery of unknown cell type is then measured. If the series resistance measurement is determined to be within a range of series resistance values exhibited exclusively by a cell type, the battery is identified as having that cell type. However, for batteries whose series resistance measurements are within a non-exclusive range of series resistance values, a second cell type discharge characteristic such as battery voltage is also characterized to differentiate between the cell types. The second discharge characteristic of these batteries is also measured and used to identify the cell type.

Abstract: A controller circuit adjusts the output signal duty cycle of an oscillator circuit. The controller circuit changes the effective bias voltage of an amplifier in a Pierce oscillator by enabling a sequence of transistor stages. Changes to the amplifier bias voltage proportionally alter the duty cycle of the oscillator output signal. Each transistor stage includes a first and second transistor selectively coupled in parallel with the amplifier. Each transistor in the circuit has smaller process parameters than the amplifier transistors so that the amplifier bias voltage can be incrementally increased or decreased to produce an output signal with a high precision duty cycle.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having an improved ink-retaining capacity. The cartridge (preferably of the thermal inkjet type) includes a housing having a multi-cellular foam member therein. To increase the ink-retaining capacity of the foam member, one or more elongate bores are positioned entirely through the foam member. Each bore is preferably uniform in cross-sectional size and configuration along its entire length, and may encompass numerous cross-sectional configurations (e.g. circular or rectangular). The longitudinal axis of each bore is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the foam member. When the foam member is supplied with ink, an additional portion of ink is retained within each bore. As a result, the ink-retaining capacity of the foam member is increased compared with foam members which lack any bores. The bores function as internal ink reservoirs from which ink may be drawn during cartridge operation.

Abstract: A method for controlling color bleed between adjacent multi-color ink regions on a print medium is disclosed. Color bleed involves the migration of color agents between adjacent zones in a multicolored printed image on a print medium. A first composition containing a gel-forming species and a color agent is brought into contact on a region of the print medium with a second composition having a color agent and a gel-initiating species or chemical conditions which bring about gelation. In alternative embodiments, the print medium may be pretreated with either a gel-initiating species or a gel-forming species (with no colorant), followed by treatment with a gel-forming species or gel-initiating species (with colorant), respectively. The formation of the gel upon the print medium impedes the movement of the color agent or agents and thus reduces the color bleed between adjacent zones.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for regulating print density in a printer of the type of an ink-jet printer having a print cartridge including nozzles which each fire ink therefrom responsive to a voltage pulse applied to a resistor in the nozzle. An optical sensor senses line width printed by the nozzles. Circuitry determines the difference between a predetermined optimum line width and the printed line width. Look-up tables relate the line width to the energy of a pulse applied to each resistor and use this signal to control ink drop volume, and therefore printed dot size. In another embodiment, a nozzle includes 2400 addressable nozzles per inch. Sensed line width is used to vary the dpi by selecting different ones of the nozzles for firing thereby maintaining appropriate relative positioning of the dots when their size varies from the predetermined line width. In the direction of paper movement, the speed of a paper carrier is varied to match the printing frequency of the X-axis to produce square images.

Abstract: An annotation channel is added to an ECG printout to graphically display the temporal relationship between P, QRS, and T waves. The annotation channel displays similar waves from different ECG channels at vertically adjacent locations so an operator can quickly verify that ECG numerical data generated by the ECG system is derived from ECG signals with reasonably detected onset and offset reference locations. To further simplify wave correlation, a set of reference identifiers are generated along a vertical line at the beginning of the first wave. The reference identifiers provide individual reference points that graphically identify time shifts between the different starting points of each recorded wave.

Abstract: The method and system for precise time based presentation of recorded medical data, such as cardiac data, encephalographic data, fetal monitor data or the like, which has been recorded on an ordinary audio cassette tape utilizing an inexpensive presentation device. An off-the-shelf tape transport deck is utilized which operates at an actual presentation speed which varies in a linear fashion in response to variations of a control signal which do not vary by greater than a selected maximum value during a given time period and in a nonlinear fashion in response to variations of a control signal which do vary by greater than the selected maximum value during a given time period. A timing track signal is utilized to determine actual presentation speed and small variations between the desired presentation speed and the actual presentation speed are coupled to a linear control system and utilized to vary the control signal at a rate which does not exceed a first rate.

Abstract: A static current testing method for single-ended or differential logic circuits having a static bias current in normal operation. The static current testing method includes switching a first bias node between a first bias voltage, in a normal operational mode, and a first shut-off voltage, in a first static current testing phase, and measuring the current supplied to the logic circuit in the testing phase. For differential circuits, the static current testing method further includes an additional step of switching a second bias node between the second bias voltage in the normal operational mode and the second shut-off voltage in a second static current testing phase. A bias switching means is used to switch between the normal bias voltage and the testing voltage. A cell switching means is coupled to a diode-connected transistor for forcing the circuit output low and for isolating the diode-connected transistor from the output.

Abstract: An enclosure for electronic equipment is disclosed having a series of vents arranged for ventilating the enclosure while minimizing flowing of spilled liquid into the enclosure through the vents. A series of vent pockets is formed in a side wall of the enclosure, extending downward from a top surface of the enclosure so that spilled liquid flows downward into the vent pockets. The vent pockets have a generally u-shaped configuration with an aperture extending through one of the side walls for ventilation. The apertures thus are formed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the top surface and the side wall of the enclosure. A liquid flow path through the vent pocket diverts the spilled liquid away from the aperture, so as to minimize flow of the liquid through the aperture into the enclosure. Another aspect of the invention is a low-cost method of making the enclosure by injection molding.

Abstract: A class of lossless data compression algorithms use a memory-based dictionary of finite size to facilitate the compression and decompression of data. To reduce the loss in data compression caused by dictionary resets, a standby dictionary is used to store a subset of encoded data entries previously stored in a current dictionary. In a second aspect of the invention, data is compressed/decompressed according to the address location of data entries contained within a dictionary built in a content addressable memory (CAM). In a third aspect of the invention, the minimum memory/high compression capacity of the standby dictionary scheme is combined with the fast single-cycle per character encoding/decoding capacity of the CAM circuit. In a fourth aspect of the invention, a selective overwrite dictionary swapping technique is used to allow all data entries to be used at all times for encoding character strings.

Abstract: A CMOS power-on reset circuit has a delay capacitor to provide a predetermined delay period. Charging and discharging of the delay capacitor is controlled by the state of a flipflop circuit. An input comparator monitors a power supply input voltage. An invalid input voltage level immediately changes the reset output signal to the invalid state and discharges the capacitor. Even after the input voltage has recovered to a valid level, recharging the capacitor is delayed until the capacitor has substantially discharged, thereby ensuring at least a predetermined delay period after the last fault condition. The reset output signal is coupled in a feedback configuration so as to lower the threshold voltage when the reset output switches to the valid state, to allow limited power supply sag, for example due to motor start-up, without resetting the circuit.

Abstract: A method of sending acquired graphical data over an alphanumeric paging service. The data is compressed, split into and blocks of a size which the paging service can handle, and transferred to the paging service. The paging service transmits the data to a wireless receiver attached to a computer. The computer displays the information on its display, and can further process the data.